Globus Medical said on September 4 that its Excelsius3D imaging system now carries a CE mark for spine and cranial surgery in the European Union and the United Kingdom. The same system cleared the FDA about five years ago.

Excelsius3D puts three modes in one mobile unit: 3D cone beam CT, 2D fluoroscopy and digital radiography. It moves on omnidirectional wheels and is meant to run alongside the company's ExcelsiusGPS navigation and robotics line. Globus is based in Audubon, Pennsylvania.

The five year gap is the part worth reading if you are planning a European launch. A US clearance buys you nothing under MDR, and a notified body queue can outlast the product generation you filed with. Budget the EU submission as its own program, not as a translation of the 510(k).